Practice golf ball removably tethered to a mat



Jan. 5, 1965 L .FINK... 3,164,386

PRACTICE GOLF BALL. REMOVABL-Y TETHERED TO A MAT 'Filed Aug. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Lows n-u ATTOIZN EYS Jan. 5, 1965 FlNK 4,

PRACTICE GOLF BALL REMOVABLY TETHERED TO A MAT Filed Aug. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lou l s l N ATTO ZNEVS United States Patent 3,164,386 PRACTICE GOLF BALL REMOVABLY TETHERED TO A MAT Louis Fink, Reading, Pa. (4925 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Fla.) Filed Aug. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 304,005

Claims. (Cl. 273198) a This invention relates generally to golf practice devices, and more specifically, to a golf swing practice device usable either indoors or outdoors on a floor or like supporting surface.

. A primary object of the invention is to provide a golf practice device of the type indicated above which may be used for practice either indoors or outdoors, and one which is readily reversible for use either by lefthanded or right-handed persons.

Another objective of importance of this invention resides in the provision of a golf practice device of the character indicated above, usable on a supporting surface, including a captive ball portion, wherein means is provided for selective height adjustment of the ball portion.

Yet another object is to supply a practice device of the stated character which may be used without danger of damage to the floor or supporting surface.

Still another object is to provide a swing practice device having means to absorb the shock of striking the captive ball portion with a golf club, whereby excessive wear is avoided and stability of position is accomplished.

General objectives of the invention include the provision of a golf swing practice device which is non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and sell, and relatively durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a first form of practice device constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention, a portion of a golf club, and portions of the device being shown in dotted lines in operational positions;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, substantially medial cross sectional view of the device as seen in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the device, partially in cross section along the line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the section line 44 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is another detail view, in cross section, along the line 55 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrow;

FIGURE 6 is a modification;

FIGURE 7 is a disassembled perspective view, showing certain elements of the assembly of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken substantially on the section line 88 of FIGURE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 9 is a partial perspective view showing the device as used by a right-handed golfer; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, showing the device as modified for use by a left-handed golfer.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, and referring initially to FIGURES l5, the invention is therein generally designated by character reference 20, and comprises a mat or base member 22 of generally rectangular form, having an upper side 24, an underside 26, and bevelled end edges 28. The mat 22 is preferably formed of plastic or other slip resistant partial perspective view showing a material having a coefiicient of friction such that it is unlikely to slide when placed on a floorformed of wood, tile, or other common flooring material, and is of a dimension to resist such slippage.

At a selected location intermediate two ends of the mat and adjacent another. end, the upper side 24 has a projecting strengthened portion 30 thereon, preferably of the substantially hour-glass form seen in FIGURE. 3. Extending from the ends of the strengthened portion 30 are frusto-conical bosses 32, the portion 30 and bosses 32 being integral with the mat 22 or fixedly secured thereto. Each of the bosses 32 has a vertical opening 34 formed therein and extending fully through the bosses and the mat therebeneath, and the mat underside 26 has an elongate slot 36 therein connecting said-openings 34 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and '4. The bosses comprise elevation means described in more detail below.

A substantially U-shaped pin member 38 formed of metal or the like is provided and includes a bight portion 40 and arms 42 extendingfrom the ends thereof. The bight portion 40 seats in the slot 36, with the arms 42 extended upwardly through the openings 34.

A ball support means 44 is provided, andincludes a support section 46 adapted for connection with the arms 42 and elevated atleast a selected distance above the mat by the bosses 32; The section 46 has enlarged end portions 48, each having a central bore 50. Bores 50 are tapered from end to end (as best seen in FIGURE 2). Openings 52 and 54 of selected form to reduce or absorb vibration may be provided in the section 46. An elongated arm 56 of concave-convex form is integrally connected to one end of the section 46 and extends over the mat 22, supporting a hollowed, hemispherical ball member 58 at its outer end over the end of the mat opposite that having the strengthened portion 30.

In construction, the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 6-10 is quite similar to that previously described, like and similar elements being identified in the drawings by the same numerals employed in the descrip tion heretofore of the device 20 of FIGURES 1-5, but having the character a afilxed thereto. In FIGURES 6-10, the device 20a includes a mat 22a having a hirsute or grass-like upper side 24a and an undersize 26a of roughened fabric or other slip resistant material.

A strengthening and upright support element 30a is provided, and has spaced apart, upstanding boss members 32a with openings 34a therein. A U-shaped pin member 38a (identical to pin 38) having a bight portion 40a and arms 42a is provided and is connected to the element 30a, the arms 42a being extended through the openings 34a and the bight 40a seating in a channel 36a extending therebetween. As seen in FIGURES 7 and 8, the arms 42a are forced through the mat 22a at a selected location whereby the arms are located in upstanding relation to the mat 22a adjacent an end thereof. A ball support 44a, carrying a ball member 5811 identical to ball support 44 and ball 58 is then mounted on the arms 42a.

In operation, the ball is struck by a golf club C and travels in the manner indicated in FIGURE 1. Due to the resiliency of the arm 56 or 56a, the ball returns to its position after striking. As indicated in FIGURES 8 and 9, the device may merely be inverted to convert the same from right-hand to left-hand use, and the assemblies 44 or 44a may be positioned at any convenient height relative to the mat.

Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that these descriptions and illustrations are offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

Patented Jan. 5., 41965 'What is claimed is:

IJA "gOlfsWing practice device adapted for use on a floor or like surface, the device comprisingi (a) a generally rectangular, fiat mat element having 'an upper side and an underside; V (b) asubstantially U-shapedpin member, having a bight portionand a pair of arms, the bight portion being positioned adjacent the underside of the mat and the pin arms extending through the mat and projecting vertically from the upper side thereof; (6) elevation means about the pin arms adjacent the 'mat; (d) a removable, flexible ball support including a support section anda projecting arm having an outer end; I "(e) the'support section having a pair of openings formed therein removably receiving the pin arms therethrough; and (f) a ballmember secured to the outer end of the arm. 2. A golf swing practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said mat is formed of a slip resistant material, 3. A golf swing practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein the mat has a grass-like upper side.

4. A'golf swing practice device adapted for use on a floor or like surface, the device comprising:

(a) a substantially rectangular, flat mat element having anupper side and an underside and having bevelled end edges;

(b) an inverted, substantially U-shaped pin member, 30

having abight portion and a pair of upstanding arms, the bight portion being positioned adjacent the underside of the mat and the pin arms extending through the mat and projecting vertically from the upper side thereof;

(c) means to permit the bight portion of the pin member to seat substantially flush with the mat underside;

(d) elevation means, comprising a pair of bosses,

about the pin arms adjacent the mat;

(e) a removable, flexible, ball support including a support section and a projecting arm having an outer end;

(i) the support section having a pair of openings formed therein removably receiving the pin arms therethrough;

(g) a ball member secured to the outer end of the arm; and

(h) the support section having vibration absorbing openings formed therein,

5. A golf swing practice device as defined in claim 4,

wherein:

(a) said pin receiving openings in the support section are tapered from end to end.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 1,091,985 Thompson et a1 Mar. 31, 1914 2,213,570 Rohland Sept. 3, 1940 2,888,266 Melin May 26, 1959 

1. A GOLF SWING PRACTICE DEVICE ADAPTED FOR USE ON A FLOOR OR LIKE SURFACE, THE DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR, FLAT MAT ELEMENT HAVING AN UPPER SIDE AND AN UNDERSIDE; (B) A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED PIN MEMBER, HAVING A BIGHT PORTION AND A PAIR OF ARMS, THE BIGHT PORTION BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MAT AND THE PIN ARMS EXTENDING THROUGH THE MAT AND PROJECTING VERTICALLY FROM THE UPPER SIDE THEREOF; (C) ELEVATION MEANS ABOUT THE PIN ARMS ADJACENT THE MAT; (D) A REMOVABLE, FLEXIBLE BALL SUPPORT INCLUDING A SUPPORT SECTION AND A PROJECTING ARM HAVING AN OUTER END; (E) THE SUPPORT SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN REMOVABLY RECEIVING THE PIN ARMS THERETHROUGH; AND (F) A BALL MEMBER SECURED TO THE OUTER END OF THE ARM. 